Morning devotions

Soak up the Son

“In the past God spoke to our ancestors through the prophets at many times and in various ways, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom also he made the universe. The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word. After he had provided purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven (Hebrews 1:1-3).”

The last few days I have begun to doubt if the promise God made to Noah about never again destroying the earth by flood would hold true.

First, it has just rained tons around here. We have had too soaking rains, and it just seems like it’s been nothing but water. I know we need it because we’ve been dry, but for me it has been depressing.

Coming out of winter I was already expecting spring. Instead, we have gotten cold, rain, wind and clouds.

I had to make about a three to four hour r0und trip drive a couple days ago in messy conditions. The trip was not a pleasure trip on any level, including the weather.

What made matters worse, especially on the trip back in the dark, was that my windshield wipers are worn out. I could barely see on the dark country roads I was moving on.

With the tension of the day, and the travel in the weather, by the time I got home I was exhausted. I just wanted to (and pretty much did) crawl in a hole somewhere –a dry one.

Then this weekend. an 8.9 earthquake and subsequent tsunami hit Japan. It’s been 24/7 coverage of walls of water hitting villages in that poor country.

Buses, cars, houses and other debris have been shown being washed away with powerful force. Distressed people have also been interviewed, anguished over missing relatives.

The last few days are symbolic of my last few years. I feel like my life has been “tsunamied”.

Personal and family illness, financial problems, conflicts, and frequent moves have taken their toll on me. Frankly, I am beyond “beyond”.

There doesn’t seem to be any place to escape the stress of life. Even as I sit here in a coffee shop, trying to relax, there is a very loud patron.

He is talking about spiritual matters, and the Bible, which normally would encourage me. However, his brash loudness and conversation full of “me” and “my” are grating on me.

Ironically, it’s a pop singer who is encouraging me today. I recently heard a song by Sheryl Crow, whose music I know nothing about, which I have altered for my own application.

So with apologies to her, here’s my version:

“My fellow customer, the Christian holds meetings in this Starbucks.

I can’t listen to his gas, but I’m stuck here blogging.

I don’t have a fancy ‘puter, I don’t have diddly squat.

It’s not having what you want, It’s wanting what you got.

I’m gonna soak up the Son, I’m gonna tell everyone to lighten up

I’m gonna tell ‘em that I’ve got no one to blame and everytime I feel lame,

I’m looking up, I’m gonna soak up the Son, I’m gonna soak up the Son.

I’ve got a crummy job, it don’t pay near enough to buy the things it takes

to lessen life’s earthquakes

Every time I turn around, others are looking up and I’m looking down

Maybe’s something right with them, that helps them to avoid sin

I’m gonna soak up the Son, I’m gonna tell everyone to lighten up

I’m gonna tell ‘em I’ve got no one to blame, and everytime I feel lame, I’m

looking up,

I’m gonna soak up the Son, you know He’s free

I’m gonna soak up the Son, before life goes out of me

Don’t have no master suite, but He’s still the King of me

Don’t have no fancy ride, but baby, He’s the One who has the key

Every time I turn around, you’re looking up, I’m lookin’ down

Maybe’s something right with you to make you act the way you do,

Maybe I am crazy, too

I’m gonna soak up the Son, gonna tell everyone to lighten up

I’m gonna tell ‘em that I’ve got no one to blame, and everytime I feel shame,

I’m looking up,

I’m gonna soak up the Son, gonna tell everyone to lighten up

I’m gonna tell ‘em that He’s got no one to blame, and everytime I feel shame,

I’m looking up

I’m gonna soak up the Son, I’ve got my verse pack on so the Rock can rock on.”

If I’m going to be free from the weight of my troubles, it is essential that I soak up and in Jesus Christ. I saw a sign for a spa recently that said,”Soak, swim and relax.”

The idea is resting in Christ. Jesus called it “abiding”, or in my translation, “remaining.” Soaking is an appropriate metaphor.

If my problems are making me feel like a dried up prune, it’s no wonder. Jesus said that if I don’t soak in Him, then I will “wither” (John 15:5,6).

Specifically, Jesus said to soak in His love. I do this by obeying what He says (John 15:9-11). Seems simple, but it’s not.

If I try to love others in my own strength, I will fail, and I will be depressed and miserable over my failure. .

This is where the Spirit of God comes in. Here’s what the apostle Paul said about His ministry:

“Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. And we all, who with unveiled faces contemplate the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his image with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit (II Corinthians 3:18).”

Trying to keep God’s Word without power is like having clouds and rain over my spirit. By turning to Jesus, the veil of storm is taken away (II Corinthians 3:12-16). This is done by soaking in the glory of the Son.

What is God’s glory? Gary Ballard describes the Hebrew word for it as “weight”, or substance.

According to Ballard, God’s glory is His love. The primary feature of His love is His compassion.

Because he is compassionate, remembering that I am dust, God tells me to take the weight off myself and put it onto Him.

I can do this by soaking in His love, which emanates from the beauty of His character. I may not have the character needed to deal with life’s issues, but Jesus surely does.

As the country of Japan is immersed in water right now, I have been saturated by my problems.

I would be better off looking up instead of down, and soaking up the Son.